Skip to main content

How to disconnect your WhatsApp Business API channel

Steps to remove a WhatsApp Business API channel from 2Chat, with details on what happens to your data depending on the provider.

There are three different ways to stop a WhatsApp Business API channel in 2Chat, and they do very different things:

  • Disconnect — pauses the channel in 2Chat. Messages stop flowing, nothing changes in your Meta account, and you can reconnect any time with one click.

  • Delete channel — removes the channel from 2Chat. Your number stays registered in your Meta account unless you also choose to deregister it.

  • Deregister number — removes the number from the WhatsApp Business Platform on Meta's side. It is offered as an option while deleting the channel.

Temporarily disconnect the channel

Use this when you want to pause the number without losing anything.

  1. Go to Channels in the main menu and open your WhatsApp Business API channel.

  2. In the General tab, find the Connection card. Right below the connection provider you will see the red Disconnect button.

  3. Click Disconnect. A confirmation dialog explains: "The number will stop sending and receiving messages through 2Chat. Nothing changes in your Meta account — you can reconnect it any time with one click."

  4. Click Yes, disconnect. The channel stops sending and receiving messages through 2Chat and appears as Inactive in the channel list.

To reconnect: open the same Connection card and click Connect. 2Chat re-registers the number with WhatsApp automatically and the channel returns to Active — no deregistration or new Meta setup is needed.

Delete the channel

Use this when you no longer want the channel in 2Chat.

  1. Open the channel and go to the General tab.

  2. At the bottom left of the page, click Delete channel.

  3. A confirmation window lists what happens: "We will no longer process messages or calls through this channel. This action cannot be undone." The conversations of this channel will be archived — you can still read them in Live Chat under the Archived filter, but they can no longer be replied to. Analytics and templates associated with the number will no longer be accessible.

  4. Optionally check "Also deregister this number from the WhatsApp Business Platform" (see below).

  5. Check "I understand the consequences listed above" and click Yes, delete.

Deleting the channel does not remove the number from your Meta account. Unless you check the deregister option, the number stays registered on the WhatsApp Business Platform and you can connect it again later — in 2Chat or anywhere else.

Deregister the number

Deregistering removes the number from the WhatsApp Business Platform on Meta's side. You only need it if you want to use the number somewhere else — for example to move it to another provider or back to the WhatsApp Business App. It is offered as a checkbox in the delete confirmation window: "Also deregister this number from the WhatsApp Business Platform". After deregistering, you can register the number again afterward, here or with another provider.

Which one should I use?

Disconnect = pause. Reversible with one click, nothing changes in Meta.

Delete channel = remove from 2Chat. Conversations are archived; the number stays registered in Meta.

Deregister number = remove from the WhatsApp Business Platform (Meta side). Needed only to move the number elsewhere.

If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to support.

Did this answer your question?